Obama calls a meeting as Congress stalls on shutdown

WASHINGTON - Two days in, Congress is no closer to resolving the first government shutdown in 17 years.

President Obama is calling the top four congressional leaders down to the White House for a meeting Wednesday afternoon. A White House official said the president will urge the House to pass a stopgap funding bill to reopen the government, and ask Congress to raise the debt ceiling ahead of an Oct. 17 deadline.

House Republicans are moving forward again Wednesday with a legislative strategy to advance piecemeal funding bills to reopen popular parts of the federal government including parks and national memorials and the Department of Veterans Affairs until a broader budget agreement is reached. Republicans continue to seek concessions on the Affordable Care Act in exchange for passage of the funding bill.s talks between the two parties," said Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

"What I don't understand is why the president and the Senate Democrats will not agree to come talk to those of us that have deep concerns about the fairness of what is Obamacare. And that to me, is just not understandable to people in my district and across the country," Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, a conservative Republican, told CBS's This Morning.

Senate Democrats and Obama oppose the piecemeal approach and continue to call on Re

publicans to approve the Senate-passed stopgap funding bill through Nov. 15 that has no provisions affecting the health care law. Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., challenged Boehner to allow a vote on the bill, which appears to have the support to pass on the votes of Democrats and moderate Republicans.

"What is (Boehner) so afraid of?" Durbin said on the Senate floor.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said she can deliver most of the Democrats' 200 House votes, and at least a dozen House Republicans have publicly said they would support a "clean" stopgap bill without provisions affecting the ACA.

One of those Republicans, Rep. MIchael Grimm, R-N.Y., said he is working with a coalition of members and leadership to find a compromise. "I'm willing to do that and there are many members that are going to make that push," he told CNN's New Day.

Republicans are looking for ways to pass the stopgap bill and negotiate with Senate Democrats on a vote to raise the debt ceiling, the nations borrowing limit.

"There is a strong possibility, if (Democrats) were willing to at least sit down and listen to us, that we could put a package together to solve all of these problems at once so we can get the government funded, stop this shutdown and also deal with the debt ceiling so that we don't have another crisis a week or two away from now," Grimm said.

Join the Nation's ConversationTo find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs

This story is part of Barack ObamaObama calls a meeting as Congress stalls on shutdownObama to meet with congressional leaders at WH5 things to know about the government shutdown todayObama calls a meeting as Congress stalls on shutdownSusan Davis, USA TODAY 12:29 p.m. EDT October 2, 2013President Obama calls a meeting as Congress shows no sign of ending the shutdown.Protesters display placards during a demonstration in front of the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 1.(Photo: Jewel Samad, AFP/Getty Images)

Story HighlightsPresident Obama meets Tuesday with the top four congressional leadersHouse Republicans again attempt piecemeal funding bills to fund popular government servicesThe shutdown could clash with an impending vote to raise the debt ceilingSHARE 350 CONNECT 43 TWEET 71 COMMENTEMAILMOREWASHINGTON - Two days in, Congress is no closer to resolving the first government shutdown in 17 years.

President Obama is calling the top four congressional leaders down to the White House for a meeting Wednesday afternoon. A White House official said the president will urge the House to pass a stopgap funding bill to reopen the government, and ask Congress to raise the debt ceiling ahead of an Oct. 17 deadline.

"We're pleased the president finally recognizes that his refusal to negotiate is indefensible. It's unclear why we'd be having this meeting if it's not meant to be a start to seriou

House Republicans are moving forward again Wednesday with a legislative strategy to advance piecemeal funding bills to reopen popular parts of the federal government including parks and national memorials and the Department of Veterans Affairs until a broader budget agreement is reached. Republicans continue to seek concessions on the Affordable Care Act in exchange for passage of the funding bill.s talks between the two parties," said Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

"What I don't understand is why the president and the Senate Democrats will not agree to come talk to those of us that have deep concerns about the fairness of what is Obamacare. And that to me, is just not understandable to people in my district and across the country," Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, a conservative Republican, told CBS's This Morning.

Senate Democrats and Obama oppose the piecemeal approach and continue to call on Re

publicans to approve the Senate-passed stopgap funding bill through Nov. 15 that has no provisions affecting the health care law. Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., challenged Boehner to allow a vote on the bill, which appears to have the support to pass on the votes of Democrats and moderate Republicans.

"What is (Boehner) so afraid of?" Durbin said on the Senate floor.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said she can deliver most of the Democrats' 200 House votes, and at least a dozen House Republicans have publicly said they would support a "clean" stopgap bill without provisions affecting the ACA.

One of those Republicans, Rep. MIchael Grimm, R-N.Y., said he is working with a coalition of members and leadership to find a compromise. "I'm willing to do that and there are many members that are going to make that push," he told CNN's New Day.

Republicans are looking for ways to pass the stopgap bill and negotiate with Senate Democrats on a vote to raise the debt ceiling, the nations borrowing limit.

"There is a strong possibility, if (Democrats) were willing to at least sit down and listen to us, that we could put a package together to solve all of these problems at once so we can get the government funded, stop this shutdown and also deal with the debt ceiling so that we don't have another crisis a week or two away from now," Grimm said.

The White House is seen behind a stop sign in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.(Photo: Karen Bleier, AFP/Getty Images)

Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., have been equally insistent that they will not negotiate on the debt ceiling because of the economic risks posed by a default. However, the two budget deadlines overlap further with each day the government remains shut down.

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew advised Congress late Tuesday that he was exhausting the last measures before the debt ceiling is hit Oct. 17.

Senate GOP leaders said they'd like to resolve the two issues separately, but that it may not be possible. "Well, they are getting close to each other, aren't they? And I'd still like to resolve the current issue before we move on to the debt ceiling, but it's not exactly clear yet when that will be resolved," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.